sparkling sweet cherry lemonade

I recently hosted a small afternoon gathering of a few friends and wanted to serve a unique and sweet beverage . . . and Sparking Sweet Cherry Lemonade made the menu!

Easy to prepare, bright in color, sweet to the taste . . . . Sparkling Sweet Cherry Lemonade would make a great addition to any gathering, whether simple or extravagant.  

bridal shower

baby shower

picnic

birthday 

brunch 

Ingredients 

1 (10-ounce) package frozen pitted sweet cherries (2 cups), thawed 
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 cup sugar

5 cups chilled seltzer water, plus more to taste

Garnish options: Fresh sour cherries or maraschino cherries with stem and/or fresh mint

Directions

Add the cherries, lemon juice, and sugar to a blender and puree. 

Pour the mixture into a large pitcher. 

Add the seltzer and stir gently. 

Pour into glasses filled with ice and top with additional seltzer, if desired.

Garnish, as desired.

Servings: 2 quarts

 ~ blueberry skewers ~

alfresco dining

Simply stated . . . Alfresco dining means eating outside.

This time of year, there are plenty of reasons to throw open your doors and gather family and friends for an outdoor party. Outdoor entertaining is, by definition, a casual affair, so don’t stand on ceremony when it comes to planning your next summer party. It’s less about the formality of matching plates and table linens and more about enjoying a great backyard barbecue with family and friends. 

 

There are so many beautiful ways 

to entertain outdoors.  

Create a summer home for dishes. Station an armoire on a covered patio or clear a few shelves in the garage to hold items devoted to alfresco dining. Affordable, unbreakable, brightly hued tableware, mix-and-match acrylic glassware and sturdy flea market finds are all good ideas to have on hand for a planned or impromptu gathering. 

  

Multiple beverage stations help ensure that guests can get a refill without waiting. Galvanized tubs, colorful enamel buckets  and planters work perfectly. With ribbon, tether an opener to a handle of each bin; drape a dish towel nearby to take care of condensation. 

If  it’s an especially warm day, keep plenty of fruit or citrus-infused water on hand for your guests. A drink dispenser will allow them to refill their glasses at the table with ease.

Accommodating a large group for a sit-down meal outside can be accomplished easily and elegantly by topping a few folding tables with a rustic flat-panel door or a single piece of plywood covered with cloth. 

 

Setting a stunning table can be surprisingly simple with a little creativity. Don’t be afraid to play with patterns, add bursts of bright color, and mix the old with the new. 

Create centerpieces using foliage from the yard. Flowering or fruiting branches look elegant atop a table, as do fern fronds and leaves arranged in jars.

 

 

Happy Summer Entertaining!

Summer Peach Tea Punch

I have a few favorite magazines that inspire me ~

Country Living, Better  Homes and Gardens,  Southern Living . . . . and Phyllis Hoffman CELEBRATE! 

I adore these magazines for their attractive covers, simple and scrumptious recipes, decorating ideas, and articles. 

 May 2011

After reading the May issue of Southern Living ~ cover to cover ~ and testing several of its wonderful drink and food recipes, I fell in love with the Governor's Mansion Summer Peach Teach Punch. It's a must if you're hosting a brunch or garden party this Spring or Summer. 

Governor's Mansion 

Summer Peach Tea Punch

Ingredients

3 family-size tea bags

2 cups loosely packed fresh mint leaves

1 (33.8-oz.) bottle peach nectar

1/2 (12-oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1/2 cup Simple Sugar Syrup

1 (1-liter) bottle ginger ale, chilled

1 (1-liter) bottle club soda, chilled

Garnish: fresh peach wedges

Preparation

Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add tea bags and mint leaves. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Cover and steep 10 minutes.

Discard tea bags and mint. 

Pour into a 1-gal. container; add peach nectar, lemonade concentrate, and Simple Sugar Syrup. 

Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.

Pour chilled tea mixture into a punch bowl or pitcher. Stir in ginger ale and club soda just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Makes about 1 gallon.

Bon Appetit!